Re: Help With Learning Kanji

Paul D wrote:

In the case of words like 山水, the learner will eventually catch on that there is another shade of meaning to 山 in addition to "mountain", namely "wilderness", which (I theorize) shows up in words like 山賊, "bandit", and 山火事, "forest fire".


In this discussion, I support "woodstock" analogy. And with 山水
example, first, I don't think it _means_ "landscape", (the best match
for "landscape" is 風景, IMO) and 山水 is essentially 山と水, mountain
and water, and the "big nature" including them.

As for 山賊 it's 山の賊, mountain bandit, against 海賊, 海の賊, sea bandit
( = pirates). 山火事 is indeed 山の火事, mountain fire. I don't know (and
almost don't care) if English speaker doesn't say "mountain fire" or
instead say "forest fire", I don't think the meaning or concept of
山 differs in these word.

So, basically it's good idea, or essential to learn the meaning of
kanji, often kun-reading of it shows its basic meaning in Japanese,
in this case, やま. Learning to read 山 as やま and knowing what
it means is essential.

muchan
.

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